Nashville‘s Charles Esten Is Staying in Music City: Songwriting and Touring Are Among Esten’s Post-Show Plans

It’s hard to imagine any other actor playing the part of Nashville‘s Deacon Claybourne. The role was made for Charles Esten.

And it has forever changed his life and the lives of his immediate family. After six years of filming the drama in the Tennessee capital, Esten has decided to make the city of Nashville his forever home.

‘Nashville’ made the Bluebird Cafe famous. But few people know the venue’s real story.

On the drama “Nashville,” the Bluebird Cafe is a sacred space where singer-songwriters belt out stunning songs that make the audience cry, and soulmate Rayna (Connie Britton) and Deacon (Charles Esten) met for the first time. Over the years, fans of the show who have flocked to Nashville have been eager to check out the real-life place and maybe grab a beer and a bite to eat.

Many are shocked to learn that, unfortunately, that’s not how it works. “Nashville,” first on ABC and now CMT, has made the 90-seat venue so incredibly popular over the last five years that it’s impossible to get in unless you have a reservation (snapped up seconds after they’re available online) or wait in line outside for hours.